Physicians who treat opioid addiction also have the option of utilizing ‘medication-assisted treatment,’ and the most common medication used in the treatment of opioid dependence today is buprenorphine (Suboxone).

Most people cannot just walk away from opioid addiction. They need help to change their thinking, behavior, and environment. This is where medication-assisted treatment options like Suboxone benefit patients in staying sober while reducing the side effects of withdrawal and curbing cravings which can lead to relapse.

In 2002, the FDA approved the use of the unique opioid buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone) for the treatment of opioid addiction in the U.S. Buprenorphine has numerous advantages over methadone and naltrexone. As a medication-assisted treatment, it suppresses withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids, does not cause euphoria in the opioid-dependent patient, and it blocks the effects of the other (problem) opioids for at least 24 hours. Success rates, as measured by retention in treatment and one-year sobriety, have been reported as high as 40 to 60 percent in some studies. Treatment does not require participation in a highly-regulated federal program such as a methadone clinic. Since buprenorphine does not cause euphoria in patients with opioid addiction, its abuse potential is substantially lower than methadone.

There are two medications combined in each dose of Suboxone. Buprenorphine, which is classified as a ‘partial opioid agonist,’ and the second is naloxone which is an ‘opioid antagonist’ or an opioid blocker.

A ‘partial opioid agonist’ such as buprenorphine is an opioid that produces less of an effect than a full opioid when it attaches to an opioid receptor in the brain. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, heroin and methadone are examples of ‘full opioid agonists.’ For the sake of simplicity from this point on we will refer to buprenorphine (Suboxone) as a ‘partial opioid’ and all the problem opioids like oxycodone and heroin as ‘full opioids.’

You need to have a SSN number and number your insurance card. We will verify your insurance and will record an appointment with the doctor. It is very easy and it will take a couple of days, no more.

Or you can do differently:

Contact your insurance provider to see if your plan covers SUBOXONE or medicinal and therapeutic treatments. If you do not have insurance, or would like to pay privately, contact New Horizons medical directly.